ConcretesealinginAdelaide
Sealing an existing 60m2 Adelaide driveway runs $850 to $2,200. Penetrating sealers protect from within. Film-forming sealers protect from the surface. SA UV exposure shortens the film-forming lifespan significantly.
Penetrating vs film-forming sealers in SA
Customers assume sealer is sealer. Then the film-forming product yellows after 18 months in Adelaide sun, or the penetrating product is applied over a dirty surface and never bonds properly.
Penetrating sealers (silane, siloxane, lithium silicate) react chemically with the concrete and form a hydrophobic barrier within the slab itself. They are invisible on the surface, do not change the appearance of the concrete, and last 5 to 7 years in Adelaide's UV and temperature environment. They cannot peel because they are not a surface film.
Film-forming sealers (acrylic, polyurethane, epoxy) sit on top of the surface and give a wet-look or semi-gloss finish that many customers prefer. They require more frequent re-application in SA UV, can yellow (particularly solvent-based acrylics), and must be fully stripped before each new coat. In coastal suburbs (Glenelg, Henley Beach, Seaford), the salt environment accelerates film-former breakdown further.
Preparation is 60% of the job
A sealer applied to a contaminated or sealed surface does not bond properly. The correct preparation sequence is: degrease oil stains, acid wash or mechanical clean to remove efflorescence and surface deposits, pressure rinse, allow full dry, then apply sealer.
Network concreters quote sealing on 3 line items: preparation method (acid wash, mechanical clean, or combination), product name and type (penetrating or film-forming), and re-coat schedule. If the quote does not specify preparation, the preparation cost has either been absorbed quietly into the sealer price or skipped entirely.
Related services and cost guides
Concrete sealing cost Adelaide - full price breakdown by product type and preparation.
Driveway concreting - sealing is the final step on any new driveway at 28 days.
Concrete repair - repair cracks before sealing to prevent moisture lock-in.